The government banned the media from reporting content that showed contempt for the judiciary.

• The Press and Information Department notification mentioned the Supreme Court’s May 17 order.
• Supreme Court order on Wada, Kamal pressurizes judiciary.
• Broadcasting contemptuous material amounts to contempt of court.

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Thursday banned television channels and newspapers from broadcasting or publishing contemptuous content against the judiciary following a Supreme Court order.

The notification issued by the Press and Information Department (PID) referred to the Supreme Court’s May 17 order, in which the apex court issued show-cause notices for contempt proceedings to independent senator Faisal Vawda and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Mustafa Kamal against their heavy-handed pressure on the judiciary.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Irfan Saadat Khan and Justice Naeem Akhtar Afgan issued a written order in a Suo Motu case at a press conference in Vawda and Kamal on May 18 . The judiciary and its judges.

The order also banned the media from broadcasting and publishing contempt of court materials and warned that they could be subject to legal action if they violated the rules.

“Television channels and all persons who broadcast, rebroadcast and/or publish material that constitutes contempt of court may also be guilty of contempt of court; therefore, they should desist from doing so or they may also be prosecuted for contempt of court.” PID today The Supreme Court order was cited in the notification issued.

The court issued show-cause notices to Vawda and Kamal, holding that the statements made by the two politicians at the press conference prima facie amounted to contempt of court and granted them an opportunity to file explanation and reply within two weeks of the receipt of the show-cause notice.

They were also directed to ensure their appearance in court on June 5.

The court in its written order noted that on May 15, 2024, Senator Wafda held a press conference at the National Press Club, Islamabad, which was broadcast live on several television channels.

During the press conference, he apparently made several malicious and serious accusations against the judiciary, made comments about High Court judges and spoke about ongoing cases, including those before this court, the order said. He added that press conferences were also published on the internet and social media forums and excerpts of his speeches were published in different newspapers.

After Senator Wada’s case was tagged Criminal Case No. 6 of 2024, the court noted that Member of the National Assembly Kamal held a similar press conference at the National Press Club, Islamabad on May 16, 2024 and also It was broadcast live on multiple TV stations.